Automatic cigarette dispenser



C. H. OERDING AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER Oct. 13, 1953 I5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11 1950 Charles H Oerdmg INVENTOR O whim Oct.13, 1953 c QERDING 2,655,418

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE DISPENSER Charles H. Oerding,Coquille, Oreg.

Application December 11, 1950, Serial No. 200,239

7 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in dispensers andmore particularly pertains to dispensers of relatively elongatedarticles such as cigarettes.

An important object of this invention is to provide a dispenser forcigarettes and the like which will dispense a single cigarette from aplurality of cigarettes without damaging or mutilating the same.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a dispenserwhich will receive a plurality of cigarettes in a sidewise alignedhorizontally disposed position, which will selectively shift one of thecigarettes to a position transverse the original position thereof andthen eject the cigarettes axially from the shifted position thereof.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a cigarettedispenser which dispenses a single cigarette from a plurality ofcigarettes in response to tilting of the dispenser in a prescribedmanner.

Yet another object of this invention is to prvide a cigarette dispenserwhich will eject a cigarette in response to tilting of the dispenserwith a movable door to permit filling of the dispenser with cigarettes,and with a mechanism which will prevent a cigarette from being ejectedwhile the door is open and the dispenser is being filled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cigarette dispenserhaving a hopper and a mechanism for selectively dispensing a cigarettefrom the hopper, with an agitator in the hopper which is actuated by thedispensing mechanism to arrange the cigarettes in proper position in thehopper.

An important feature of this invention resides the provision of a hopperfor the reception of elongated articles in a horizontal position with achute leading from the hopper, and a carrier mechanism for receiving asingle cigarette from the chute and shifting the cigarette into a position transverse its normal position.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision ofa dispenser in accordance with the foregoing feature together with amechanism for ejecting the cigarette from the carrier after the latteris in its shifted position.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in the provision of adispenser including a hopper and a chute leading from the hoppertogether with a carrier mechanism for receiving a cigarette from thechute and angularly shifting the same into ejecting position, and amechanism for preventing the discharge of cigarettes from i the hopperwhen the carrier is out of its cigarette receiving position.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of adispenser constructed in accordance with the foregoing features with amechanism for supporting the cigarette in its ejected position.

Still a further feature of this invention resides in the provision of adispenser in accordance with the foregoing features with an agitator inthe hopper which is actuated by the carrier moving mechanism to positionthe cigarettes relative to the chute.

Other important features of this invention reside in the construction ofa dispenser in accordance with the foregoing features in which theejector and carrier are so constructed and arranged that the ejectorserves to limit angular shifting movement of the carrier, and in whichthe carrier and the mechanism for preventing discharge of cigarettesfrom chute are so constructed and arranged that the carrier moves thechute closing mechanism out of position as the carrier moves intocigarette receiving position.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features are attainedby this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of the dispenser;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the dispensertaken on the plane 2-2 of Figure 5;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the dispensertaken on the plane 3-3 of Figure 5;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane 4-4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the plane 5-5of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the plane 66of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on substantiallythe plane l-l' of Figure 9 and showing the dispenser actuator in itsejecting position;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View, taken on the plane 8-3of Figure 9, showing the carrier and ejector in their ejecting position;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the plane 9-of Figure '7;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on the planeIll-40 of Figure 5; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view showingthe mechanism for preventing actuation of the dispenser when the hop perfiller door is opened.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawingswherein the dispenser is indicated generally by the numeral Ill.

The dispenser includes a casing 12 having a top wall is, side walls l6,end walls 18 and a bottom wall as removably attached by fasteners 22which are receivable in the bosses 24 on the side and end walls.

The hopper includes upstanding side' panels 25 and 28 which are disposedin parallel spaced relation to the casing side walls and secured to thebottom Wall of the casing in any desired.

manner. A horizontally disposed top panel 30-, first and secondvertically disposed end panels 32 and 34 respectively, anddown-wardlysloping relatively converging bottom panels 36 and 38 aresecured between the side panels, as-by weld ing or the like. Theregistering edges of the: bottom panels 35 and 38 are-spaced from eachother, and a. chute is secured .to the bottom panels and is adapted toconvey elongated articles, such as cigarettes therefrom, whilemaintaining the cigarettes in -a horizontally disposed position. Forreasons which will later become apparent, as the following descriptionproceeds, the bottom at of the chute is vertically inclined and includesa relatively angulated upwardly extending portion 42 which is secured tothe bottom panel 38 of the hopper.v Similarly, thetop 44 of the chute isvertically spaced from the bottom 40 so as to define a substantiallyuniform passage therebetween, the top also including a relativelyangul'ated upwardly extending portion .6 which is secured to the bottompanel 35. In order to obtain satisfactory operation of the dispenser itis necessary that the spacing between the top and bottom of the chute besubstantially equal to the diameter of the article being dispensed, andfor the purpose of dispensing cigarettes, it has been found that aspacing of inch will permit satisfactory operation.

As is thought apparent, the top as and upwardly extending portion .46thereof may be formed integrally with the end panel 32 and the bottompanel 36 of hopper, the bottom panel being secured by welding, as at'48to theend panel 32. wardly extending. portion 42 thereof may beformedintegrally with the bottom panel 33 of the hopper.

and 28 whereby, the latter limit axial movement of cigarettes in thechute.

The bottom .of the chute is provided with a depending flange which isdisposed substantially coplanar with the end panel 32, which flange issecured to the bottom wall 20 of the casing.

An agitator plate 52, having a depending lip 54 is verticallypivotallyattached to the bottom panel 38, as by pivot pin 55, and, as is bestshown in Figure 3, is formed complementary to the bottom panel 38 andthe upwardly extending portion 42 of the bottom 40 of the chute. Anarcuate deflector plate 58 is secured to the end panel 34 and overliesthe bottom panel 38 to guide the cigarettes onto the agitator'plate 52.A baffle 68 depends from the top panel 38 and overlies the bottom of thehopper above the chute to aid in postioning the cigarettes relative tothe chute.

It will be seen that when the agitator is raised to the position shownin Figure 9, by a mechanism to be described hereinafter, that the lip 54engages the cigarette disposed adjacent the portions H and 46 of thechute and moves the same up- Additionally, the bottom M3 and up- Theends of the top and bottom of the chute are secured to the sidepanels'ZE wardly relative thereto, the cigarettes on the agitator andthose abutted thereby, will also be moved. Thus those cigarettes whichare disposed in the chute will be permitted to move in the chute bygravity and not be jammed by an improperly positioned cigarette in thehopper which would bear against those in the chute if the agitator were:not provided to shiftthe cigarettes in the manner set forth above.Whenthe agitator is permitted to return to its normal position shown inFigure 3, the cigarette engaged by the lip 54 will be permitted to fallfreely in the space between the portions 42 and 46 whereby the samemaybecome properly aligned with the cigarettes in the chute.

In order to selectively dispense a single cigarettein an uprightposition, there is provided an elongated carrier 52 which issubstantially C-shaped in cross section, and an operating lever 64 isattached longitudinally of the carrier, the other end of the lever beingattached to the shaft 66 which is rotatably mounted in journals 68carried by the bottom wall 28' of the casing. As is apparent from aconsideration of Figure. 3, the open face of the carrier is disposed inregistry with the orifice of the chute, and that the end panel 32 willserve to retain the cigarettes in the chute as the carrier is pivotedabout the shaft 66 into an upright position.

The shaft 65 extends through a slot 68 in the end wall l8 of the casing,and an operating handle i0 is attached to the externally projecting endof the shaft, to permit manual actuation of the latter. In order topermit the dispenser to be actuated in response to tilting of thedispenser in a predetermined direction relative to the axis of the shaft65, an elongated weight 12 is non-rotatably attached to the shaft andextends from the shaft in substantially the same direction as thecarrier 32 extends therefrom, so that when the weight isdisposedhorizontally on the bottom wall 2% of the casing, the carrier will bedisposed in registry with, the orifice of the chute. Obviously, otherrelative angular positions of the weight i2 onthe shaft 55 may beutilized without departing from the scope ,of the invention, but it isthought'apparent that the specific construction recited is such that theweight i2 will, also serve to return the carrier into registry with theorifice, when the bottom wall 20 of the casing is disposed horizontally.Thus theweight will serve to return the carrier when the shaft isrotated either manually by the handle Ill, or by tilting of thedispenser casing.

A carriage 14, which includes an elongated channel. shaped member havinga web 16 and. legs 18 and is mounted on the bottom. wall .20 and isvertically movable to selectively block the orifice of the chute, andprevent discharge of a cigarette therefrom. An upwardly extending guidemember 82 is attached to the bottom wall 20 adjacent one end of thecarriage, and is guidably received in a slot 84 (see Figure 4) in theweb 16 of the carriage, a second guide rod 86 is secured to the bottomwall 20 adjacent the other end of the carriage, and is g-uidablyreceived in an aperture 88 in the car 90 carried by the leg 80 of thecarriage. A compression spring 92 is disposed between the bottom walland the web 16 of the carriage, intermediate the guide member 82 and theguide pin 86 whereby the carriage is yieldingly biased upwardly into aposition in which the leg 18 thereof overlies the orifice and preventsdischarging of a cigarette therefrom. Obviously, stops 94 and 96 arecarried by the upper end of the guide member and guide pin respectivelyto limit upward movement of the carriage. The leg 80 of the carriageincludes an enlarged portion 98, best shown in Figure 8, which overliesthe guide pin and prevents the cigarette from contacting the same. Aportion I00 of the bottom wall 20 underlies the carriage and limitsdownward movement thereof.

As Will be noted from a consideration of Figures 3 and 6, the operatinglever 64 on carrier 62 engages the web I6 of the carriage and moves thecarriage out of chute closing position as the carrier moves intoregistry with the chute orifice. Since the carriage is movableindependently on the guide member 82 and guide pin 86, it will be notedthat the end of the carriageadjacent the shaft 66 will be depressedfirst as the carrier is lowered, and that the end of the carriage remotefrom the shaft will be elevated first as the carrier is raised.Consequently either the carrier or the carriage at all times controlsthe discharge of cigarettes from the chute.

In order to move the cigarettes axially out of the carrier 62 there isprovided an ejector arm I02, disposed parallel to the carrier, andvertically pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft I04 which is journaledin bearings I06 carried by the bottom wall 20. A finger I08 extends fromthe free end of the arm I02 and is adapted to underie the lower end ofthe cigarette disposed in the carrier 62, when the latter is in anupright position. It is contemplated that the arm I02 and finger I08carried thereby be moved to engage the lower end of the cigarettedisposed in the carrier, when the latter is in a substantially uprightposition, and for this purpose the rocker shaft I04 is provided with acrank arm III) on the end thereof remote from the arm, and a flexibleelement II2, such as a chain or the like is attached to the crank armand to the weight 12, so that when the weight is moved into asubstantially upright position as is shown in Figure 7, the element II2will be tensioned, causing the crank arm to oscillate the rocker shaftand elevate the arm I02. ment of the length of the chain I I2, and thepoint on the weight to which it is attached, the

extent of movement of the arm I02 may be regulated. A spring I I4 orsimilar resilient element is attached to the bottom wall 20 and to theelement II2 intermediate the ends thereof, to prevent the latter frombecoming lodged below the Weight I2.

It is contemplated that the finger I08 carried by the arm )2 have arecess II 6 (see Figure 4) therein which is engageable with theoperating arm '54 when the latter is in a substantially uprightposition, whereby the finger will serve to limit further pivotalmovement of the arm 64 and the carrier 62 attached thereto. A flangeplate H8 is also attached to the ejector arm I02 adjacent the fingerI08. A pin I 20 extends from the carriage and engages the ejector armI02 to urge the latter into its inoperative position as the carrier 62moves the carriage I4 out of chute closing position.

It will be noted that the top wall I4 of the casing has an opening I22therein (see Figures 1, 6 and 8) through which the cigarette is ejected,and in order to prevent cigarettes from falling back through the openininto the dispenser mechanism, there is provided a flap I24 carried bythe shaft I26 which is journaled as at I28 on the side panel 26. Theflap I24 normally is disposed in the position best shown in Figure 6,

()bviously by suitable adjustiii) below the opening I22, the flap beingyieldingly biased into that position by the weight I30 disposed on thecrank arm I32 which is carried by the end of the shaft I 26 remote fromthe flap, the weight abutting the side panel 26 (see Figure 5) to limitfurther downward swinging movement of the flap. When the carrier 62 ismoved into its upright ejecting position, as is shown in Figure 8, thecarrier engages the flap I24 and moves the same out of its openingblocking position. Obviously, a spring may be substituted for the weightI30 without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is also contemplated that the agitator 52 be actuated by thedispenser mechanism, and in timed relation thereto, and for this purposethe pivot pin 56, by means of which the agitator is pivoted, is providedwith an arm I34 which extends transverse the axis of the pivot pin andwhich terminates in an arcuate cam member I 36, disposed in a planeparallel to the path of movement of the weight 12. A cam follower I38 iscarried by the weight I2 and engages the cam member I36 to cause thesame to pivot about the axis of the pivot pin 56, thereby verticallyoscillating the agitator 52. The cam member I36 is so designed that theagitator is elevated when the weight is disposed substantially normal tothe bottom wall 20, at which time the carrier is also in its uprightposition, and when the weight is in the position shown in Figure 5, theagitator is in the position shown in Figure 3. A suitable weight I40 isattached by an arm I42 to the end of the pivot pin 56 remote from thatfrom which the arm I 34 extends, to bias the agitator into itsinoperative position, shown in Figure 3. Obviously, a spring may also besubstituted for the weight I40.

A second fiap I44 is hingedly connected a at I46 to a mountin bracketI48 carried by the end panel 32, the flap I44 being weighted so as to begravity urged into the position shown in full lines in Figure 6. A stoppin I50 carried by the end panel 32 is receivable in the seat I52 in thesecond flap to limit downward pivotal movement thereof and a stop I53overlies the second flap, to limit upward movement thereof. The secondflap I44 also has a smooth arcuate undersurface I54 Which is engaged bythe upper end of the cigarette as it is ejected from the carrier,whereby the second flap pivots sufiiciently to permit the cigarette topass thereby. However, return of the cigarette is prevented since thesecond. flap engages the side thereof, as is shown in Figure 8, andbinds the same in the carrier 62 and against the flap I24.

The side wall I6 of the casing is provided with an open ng I55, inregistry with the opening I58 in the side panel 28 of the hopper, topermit filling of the latter. It is to be noted, however, that the exactpositioning of the registering filler openings in the hopper and casingmay be other than that specifically described herein, without departingfrom the scope of the invention. A door I60 is attached to the side Wallof the casing and overlies the opening I56 therein, the door having aperipheral flange I82, which overlies the outer face of the side wall,and a finger I64 on. the inner side thereof. A latch IE0 is attached tothe rotatable knob I68 for detachably securing the door in position.

Since, as previously stated, the dispenser may be actuated by tiltingthe same, there is provided a locking member I10 which is verticallypivotally mounted by bracket I72 on the inner "face oi theiside wallifi' 'adja'centthe 'opening I56 th in, a -fihgerflldbeing attached to'thelock- "i'ng member ioriengagement with the door I60. i'iisprin'gI'Idyi'eld'ingly 'urg'esthe finger'I'M into "e a'gement' with'the'door,and when :th'elatter i not in' pos'ition, the member 'I l'fl' isdisposed in theipath of movement of the weight I2'to prevent pivoting oithe same (see Figure 11). However, when' the door i's in position, themember I is pivoted: out of the: path of movement of the weight,asisshown in Figure 5.

A-trap do r ii-Bis hingedly connected-to the bottom wall 2% as by pinI85 and hinge plate I82, the-trapdoor underlying the apertured portionoft-he bottom" via-1L2!) whichunderlies the carrierand car ii e;to'facili-tatethe removal of wast'etohacco dropped by the cigarettes asthey are being ejected, a spring I84 biases the trap intoits closedposition, anda fingernail receiving detent Iaii is carried bythe trapdoor toperm-it-opening of the latter.

Inboperation, it-will be noted that thedoor I 68 may bereinovedby'rotation of the knob I68, and the hopper then filled, care beingtaken to provide clearance between the topmost row'of cigarettes andthetop panel 36 of the hopper. Since locking member I216 is disposed in thepath of movement of the weight I2, it will be appreciated that thedispenser will notbe actuated,

even if the same is tilted about the axis of. the

shaft E6.

Whenever the shaft 55 is oscillated, either manuallyby the handle iii,or -by the weight l2, when the casingis tilted, the carrier 52, whichreceives a single cigarette at a time from the chute, will also hevertically pivoted into the position shown in Figures 8 and 9. Astheweight moves upward it engages the cam member I35 thereby elevating theagitator into the position shown in Figure 9, further movement oi theweight tensioning the element I I2 which actuates the ejector arm i2tomove the finger I83 carried thereby intoengagement with the lower end ofa cigarette disposed in carrier 62. The recess IIo (see Figure i) in thefinger i538 engages the operating lever Beef the carrier, and limitsfurther upward vertical pivotal movement thereof.

The flap !24 is engaged by the carrierfiQ, when the latter is in itsupright position, whereby the flap is moved out of registry with theopening I22 in the top 'wall I4, thereby permitting a cigarette to heejected. It may be noted, at this time, that the carrier, when in itsejecting position, shown in Figure 8, is inclined slightly to thevertical, whereby the weight 52 may serve topivot the carrier into itscigarette receiving position,

shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6.

When the cigarette is partially ejected from the carrier 62, as is shownin Figure 8, the seconeflap I do engages theside of thecigarette andprevents the same from sliding back'into the carrier.

As the carrier 62 moves into the positionshown in Figures 2, 3 and 6.the operating arm 64 engages the carriage i4 and moves the latter outof chute closing position, the pin I29 carried by the carriage engagingthe ejector arm I02 (see Figures 6 and a) to urge the latter into itsinoperative position, the spring 92 opposing downward movement ofcarriage '54.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A cigarette dispenser comprisinga casing, a hopper adapted to'receivecigarettes in a horizontal position, a chuteextending-from said hop- 8per, "carriermeans: disposed horizontally adjacent the orifice: of said.chute :for receivinga cigarette from said chute, means: for moving saidcarrier means: into an ejecting positiontransverse its cigarettereceiving position, and means for ejecting a cigarette :from' saidcarrier means,

said casingshaving-a-door therein adjacent said hopper topermitfilling-of said hopper, means responsiveto opening'of said doorfor preventing actuation of said carriermoving means.

2; A: cigarette dispensercomprising a casing, a hopper adapted toreceive cigarettes in a horizontal position, a chute extending from saidhopper, carrier mean-s dis-posed horizontally adjacent theorifioe-ofsaid'chute for'reeeiving-a cigaretteirom said chute, means formoving, said carrier means into an ejecting positiontranaverse itscigarette receiving position, and-means for 'ejectinga cigarette fromsaid carrier: means,

agitator means disposed in said hopper, and comcarrier means into anejecting position transverse its cigarettereceiving position, and meansfor ejectinga cigarette from saidcarrier means,

common means responsive to tilting of said dispenser for actuating. saidcarrier moving means and said-ejecting means in timed relation to eachother, said casing havinga door therein adjacent said. hopper to permitfilling of said hopper, means responsive toopening of said-door forpreventing actuation of said common 'actuatingsmeans,

e. A cigarettedispenser comprising a hopper adapted to receivecigarettes in a horizontal position, a chute extending from said hopper,carrier means disposed horizontally adjacent the orifice of said chutefor receiving a cigarette from said chute, means for moving said carriermeans into an ejecting position transverse its cigarette receiving.position, and means for ejectinga cigarette from said carrier means,agitator means disposed in said hopper, and common means foractuatingsaid carrier moving means, said ejecting means and saidagitator means, chute closing means disposed adjacent the orifice ofsaid chute and underlyingsaid carrier means for selectively. closingsaid chute to prevent the discharge of cigarettes therefrom, saidcarrier vper, carrier means disposed horizontally adjacent the orificeof said chute for receiving a cigarette from saidchute, means for movingsaid carrier means into an ejecting position transverse its cigarettereceivingeposition, and means for ej ecting a cigarette from saidcarrier means, an agitator vertically pivotally mounted in said hopper,said agitator having a depending lip extending into said chute, commonmeans responsive to tilting of said dispenser for selectively elevatingsaid agitator and for actuating said carrier moving means and saidejector means, said casing having a door therein adjacent said hopper topermit filling of said hopper, means responsive to opening of said doorfor preventing actuation of said common actuating means.

6. A cigarette dispenser comprising a casing, a hopper in said casing, achute extending from said hopper, carrier means disposed horizontallyadjacent the orifice of said chute for receiving a cigarette therefrom,means responsive to tilting of said dispenser for moving said carriermeans into an ejecting position transverse said cigarette receivingposition of said carrier means, said casing having a door thereinadjacent said hopper Cfl to permit filling of said hopper, meansresponsive 20 to opening of said door for preventing actuation of saidcarrier moving means.

7. A cigarette dispenser comprising a casing, hopper means in saidcasing, a chute extending from said hopper, means for receiving acigarette from said chute and ejecting same, said casing having a doortherein adjacent said hopper to permit filling of said hopper, meansresponsive to opening of said door for preventing actuation of saidcigarette receiving means.

CHARLES H. OERDING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 640,112 Dennis Dec. 26, 1899 697,245 Greenland Apr. 8, 1902977,441 Fleming et al Dec, 6, 1910 1,113,425 Flinder Oct. 13, 19141,972,591 Hnath Sept, 4, 1934 2,182,955 Allen Dec. 12, 1939 2,425,553Musselman et al. Aug. 12, 1947 2,554,746 Laichee May 29, 1951 2,560,907Thomas et a1. July 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 389,104Germany Jan. 26, 1924

